Did You Know “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” Author Was From Michigan?

There are some books you grow up reading that are considered classics for young readers. I think this began when, in elementary school, we would frequently have book tours, which allowed authors to come into schools and educate children about the magic of writing, reading and illustration. One of the classic books we all read growing up was the classic, "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."

The book was written by Betty Smith, who wrote the book in 5 parts, and has been called a classic by The New York Times, as United States Tradition recalled:

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Betty Smith, born Elisabeth Lillian Wehner on December 15, 1896, was an American author best known for her 1943 novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in the early 20th century.

As they go one, they highlight this author was at one point a Michigander and even went to U of M in Ann Arbor:

In 1919, Smith married George H.E. Smith, and the couple moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she enrolled in the University of Michigan as a special student, even though she had not graduated from high school. During this time, she studied journalism, drama, and playwriting, all of which helped her develop the skills that would later shape her career. Though she never completed her degree, Smith's exposure to the university's intellectual environment was transformative.

It's so cool to think she was a Michigan resident at one point, as this is one of the most well known young readers books from my childhood. If you've never read this classic book you can snag a copy below:

On a side note, I think author tours are a great idea, and hope they still do these in schools. I got to meet Tomie DePaola when I was in 4th Grade while going to Brooklands Elementary in Rochester Hills. Tomie had his own show and was known for works like Strega Nona, which voted as one of the Top 100 Picture Books.

READ MORE: The Best Colleges and Universities in Michigan for 2025